Dyscalculia

This learning disability affects a person’s ability to understand and comprehend numbers and mathematics. Those who suffer from this disorder may also have a hard time organizing and memorizing numbers, learning how to use mathematical symbols, telling time, and counting.

While not as well-known as its cousin dyslexia, dyscalculia is estimated to affect between 3% and 6% of the population, making it almost as prevalent. Thankfully, there are many ways that you can help your child overcome this disability. Whether it be through strengthening math skills or boosting self-esteem, Integrated Learning Academy is here to help your child succeed!

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a neurological disorder that makes it very difficult for a person to make sense of number and math problems. Being that different kids have different issues and therefore different needs, it can be difficult determining if dyscalculia is the root of the problem. However, this disability can manifest itself in many ways and can affect numerous areas related to math learning and performance.

At the heart of dyscalculia is a problem with “number sense.” This is essentially a person’s innate ability to comprehend how numbers work together, and how to compare and estimate various quantities. Number sense is at the core of math learning, and provides the foundation on which all other mathematics must be built upon. Basically, learning math can be a nightmare if a kid has a poor understanding of how numbers work.

Researchers of mathematical leaning disabilities often make the comparison to colorblindness. Some people are born “number blind”, making it extremely difficult to tell the difference between two quantities or values. This is likely one contributing factor that causes children to experience difficulties with math.

Some children are unable to grasp basic number concepts despite the fact that they take the time to learn various mathematical rules and facts taught in schools. In other words, they are missing the logic behind the application, they known what to do in math class, but they don’t know why they are doing it. For others the opposite may be true, they may understand the underlying concepts, but suffer from an inability to recall and implement the rules that they have been taught.

In either case, your child’s struggle with math can be down right frustrating and altogether confusing, especially if he or she is doing well in other subjects. In turn, this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. However, there are numerous strategies and tools that can be adopted to help combat dyscalculia. The hard part is finding the methods that will work best for your child. While dyscalculia is a lifelong condition, that doesn’t mean that it cannot be overcome, and with proper training and treatment your child can become happy and successful in math class and beyond.

Causes of Dyscalculia

It is not currently known exactly what causes dyscalculia, however, research has shown that is is most likely a brain based disorder as with many other leaning disabilities. Certain factors that have been identified as potential causes of the condition include:

Heredity and genetic predisposition: Studies have shown that some families may be at a higher predisposition for dyscalculia and other related math difficulties. researchers have noted that a child with dyscalculia is very likely to have a parent who suffers from similar mathematical issues.

Serious brain trauma: There have been numerous cases in which a serious injury to certain parts of the brain has resulted in what experts call “acquired dyscalculia” or clinically acalculia. So remember to wear those helmets!

Environment: This does not refer to the timeless nature versus nurture debate, but rather to the environment in which a child developed in the womb. Studies have linked dyscalculia to both high rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as well as to prematurity and low weight at birth.

Neurological Development: In recent years, researchers have been using brain imaging technology to study the brains of people with and without math based learning disabilities. While research is still ongoing, what they have found thus far is that there were substantial differences in surface area, thickness, and volume of various parts of the brain from one group to another. This is intriguing because these areas are those linked to leaning, memory, and mathematical reasoning, and therefore provides evidence to support the claim that dyscalculia is a neurological disorder.

For those who suffer from dyscalculia, the root of their math problems may be any one or any combination of the causes listed above.

Causes of Dyscalculia

It is not currently known exactly what causes dyscalculia, however, research has shown that is is most likely a brain based disorder as with many other leaning disabilities. Certain factors that have been identified as potential causes of the condition include:

Heredity and genetic predisposition: Studies have shown that some families may be at a higher predisposition for dyscalculia and other related math difficulties. researchers have noted that a child with dyscalculia is very likely to have a parent who suffers from similar mathematical issues.

Serious brain trauma: There have been numerous cases in which a serious injury to certain parts of the brain has resulted in what experts call “acquired dyscalculia” or clinically acalculia. So remember to wear those helmets!

Environment: This does not refer to the timeless nature versus nurture debate, but rather to the environment in which a child developed in the womb. Studies have linked dyscalculia to both high rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as well as to prematurity and low weight at birth.

Neurological Development: In recent years, researchers have been using brain imaging technology to study the brains of people with and without math based learning disabilities. While research is still ongoing, what they have found thus far is that there were substantial differences in surface area, thickness, and volume of various parts of the brain from one group to another. This is intriguing because these areas are those linked to leaning, memory, and mathematical reasoning, and therefore provides evidence to support the claim that dyscalculia is a neurological disorder.

For those who suffer from dyscalculia, the root of their math problems may be any one or any combination of the causes listed above.

Signs and Symptoms

As with any leaning disability, it is imperative to first recognize and diagnose the condition before treatment options can be explored. The symptoms of dyscalculia may be different from child to child, and across different age ranges. Older kids may display radically different signs of the disorder from their younger counterparts, and vice versa. As a child ages, dyscalculia typically becomes more apparent, but early detection is still very possible. The following is a list of symptoms broken into the age groups where they tend to be most prevalent, along with some general signs that point to dyscalculia as the culprit:

Preschool and Kindergarten:

Trouble learning to count or putting things in proper sequential order

Avoids games that use counting and numbers

Problems recognizing patterns

Inability to sort objects by size, shape, or color

Trouble remembering numbers and number symbols

Skipping numbers when counting

Difficulties with connecting numbers to real life situations

Trouble understanding and demonstrating one to one correspondence with blocks

Elementary and Middle School:

Trouble telling time

Avoids games that involve numbers

Difficulty remembering phone numbers and game scores

Trouble telling left from right and poor sense of direction

Inability to comprehend math related words such as greater than and less than

Being unsure of where to start when solving math problems

Sloppy organization of numerals on the page

Continued use of fingers to count

Difficulty recognizing and understanding mathematical symbols like ‘+’ and ‘-‘

Trouble learning and recalling basic math facts

High School:

Inability to relate mathematical concepts to every day life

Has trouble measuring things and doing simple mental math

Struggles with following directions and getting lost often

Difficulty interpreting information presented with graphs and charts

Being unable to use multiple ways to solve the same math problem

Struggles with judging speed and distance when playing sports or learning to drive

How to Treat Dyscalculia

While frustrating and sometimes embarrassing, dyscalculia can be treated in a number a ways that will enable your child to lead a happy and successful life. The following are a variety of strategies that should help remedy this disorder and its symptoms:

Use of scratch paper

Drawing pictures to illustrate word problems

Using graph paper to keep things organized

Implementation of rhythm and music to teach math facts

Using colored pencils to differentiate between problems or sections of a problem

Work with manipulatives, diagrams, and visual aides

Use of a calculator when possible

Use concrete examples that connect math to real life to improve number sense

Chunking lessons and homework into smaller, more manageable sections

Supervising work and encouraging your child to talk through the problem-solving process

Reviewing a recently learned skill before moving on to a new one

Focus on one problem at a time by covering finished problems with a blank page

Play fun math games that will help your child become more comfortable with math

Resolving difficulties related to math and numbers has a life changing impact on individuals with dyscalculia, their families and communities. Dyscalculia does NOT define a person; there are numerous success stories for those who suffer from the condition. For many with dyscalculia, difficulty learning to work with numbers as a child can manifest itself later on in life and negatively impact things like social skills, career advancement, sense of direction, physical coordination, and time and money management, to name just a few. This is why it is imperative to act now to treat this disability so that these pitfalls can be avoided further on down the line.

Besides the aforementioned methods and strategies, the best way to treat dyscalculia is by seeking professional help. Educational specialists will be able to develop a plan of action specific to your child, and will be able to identify the areas in which he or she struggles most. They will also be able to highlight any other disabilities that might potentially be exacerbating these problems with math and numbers, and will prove to be an indispensable asset in charting your child’s road to success.

Brain Gym and Dyscalculia

At Integrated Learning Academy we combine traditional treatment methods with Brain Gym exercises. These exercises serve several purposes. First, they help calm the anxieties associated learning math. Secondly, they activate the brain and open up the neuro-pathways to promote learning.